We are departing Inverness to spend the next couple days in Isle of Skye and have booked an AirBnB in Portree. Portree is just under a three hour drive from Inverness and it is a lot of winding roads so beware for anyone who gets carsick. We decided to make a couple stops to help break up the driving and to be able to see and experience more of Scotland. 

Eilean Donan Castle is one of the most recognized images of Scotland, worldwide. The castle sits on an island at the intersection of three sea lochs and is surrounded by breath-taking scenery. The castle is one of the most visited attractions in the Scottish Highlands, and for good reason. The first inhabitants date to the 6th century but the first fortified castle wasn’t built until the mid-13th century. Multiple different versions of the castle have been built, and rebuilt, throughout the feudal history of Scotland. A Jacobite uprising  partially destroyed the castle in 1719 and Eilean Donan lay in ruins until 1911 when Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap purchased the island and began to restore the castle. His efforts would see the castle reopened in 1932. Today, four generations of the MacRae family are constables of Eilean Donan Castle. 

What is particularly unique about Eilean Donan Castle is that visitors can explore nearly every part of the castle and enjoy a walk through history. The Billeting Room houses a castle collection of MacRae family and local historical artifacts. There is furniture from Chippendale and Sheraton, cannonballs fired during the 1719 bombardment, tea sets of Liverpool china, and dueling pistols. The Banqueting Hall is particularly beautiful with its timber ceiling beams which were shipped from British Columbia during the restoration; a generous gift from the MacRaes of Canada. There is a Visitor Center, Gift Shop, and Café on site. We opted to enjoy lunch at the café as rain blew in while we visited the castle and a bowl of hot soup was delightfully warming. 

Back in the car, we enjoyed more scenic driving en route to the Fairy Pools for a hike. The Fairy Pools are located near the village of Carbost in Glenbrittle on the Isle of Skye and are always free to visit though there is a small fee for parking. The Fairy Pools are formed by a stream which runs down from the Cuillin mountains and the stream is marked by several waterfalls. The waterfalls feed the rock pools which are known as the Fairy Pools. Visitors can take in the views during a 2.4 km (roughly 1.5 mile) walk from the car park to the Fairy Pools via a gravel path. The water in the Fairy Pools is crystal clear and you are likely to see some swimmers along the walk.

Our next stop was at the Isle of Skye Candle Co Visitor Center. One of our friends wanted to stop here and it was a nice opportunity to use the facilities and browse the shop. Isle of Skye Candle Co took over what used to be the Aros Centre in early 2022 and spent a year renovating the building. The bigger space has been beneficial for production and they were able to add in a pizzeria, wellness space, cinema, and their flagship store. It is a convenient one-stop-shop to spend an evening.

We stopped at the co-op in Portree and stocked up on some snacks and take-and-bake dinner items. Once back at the AirBnB, we started baking dinner and got the laundry going while we settled in for the evening. The second episode of the newest series of the Great British Bake Off was on and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to watch it while in the UK!